Food Review: Moosewood Pasta e Fagioli

Like Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, I'm not a "no carbs" kind of girl. I love bread, the occasional cookie, and yes — pasta. I also love quick meals that are healthy, yet tasty. When I saw this box of Pasta e Fagioli made by Moosewood, the famous vegetarian restaurant in Ithaca, NY, the photo made me place it in my cart immediately.

Are you curious to know how this meal measured up? Then

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Well, my first thought was that the real meal looked nothing like the picture on the box. It seemed pretty unappetizing, actually, but smelled delicious. When I took my first bite, I noticed the extremely soft texture of the penne pasta. If you prefer al dente noodles, this will seem squishy to you. The tomato sauce was slightly watery, but extremely flavorful. It tasted almost like licorice, and had a bit of a spicy kick at the end of each mouthful. I liked the whole white beans and the diced carrots, but would have liked to see even more whole veggies — as many as you see in the photo on the box.

The portion size was perfect to enjoy with a side salad, and I didn't feel stuffed afterward. Aside from the delicious taste of this frozen entrée, the nutritional info is outstanding. Only 230 calories, but it's low in fat and sodium, and high in fiber and protein. Not only that, but it's made mostly with organic ingredients. In a pinch this meal is very satisfying and healthy, and I'd definitely spend $5 on it again.